Medicare for Americans traveling overseas. | Medical insurance in Thailand for expats & foreigners.

Medicare for Americans traveling internationally is possible. And international Medicare is also possible even for Americans living in a foreign country. I'm a semi-expat in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and getting Thailand medical insurance for foreigners and expats is a big deal. Health insurance in Thailand can be tricky. I'm sure it is the same for Americans in the Philippines, Mexico, and all around the world. I recorded this video in late 2023 so is "recent" info for 2023 and 2024.
So it is nice to know there might be a Medicare international backup for you. This is just for emergency health care, and urgent medical needs, but that is often what is most important and most expensive and what we fear most: heart attack, stroke, serious car accident, et cetera. And this loophole will not work for everybody, of course. For example, an American residing full-time out of the USA, with no viable US address or residency and not ever returning, might run into some problems maintaining a Part C plan, satisfying the administering HMO or PPO. But for many American seniors outside the United States, here is a strategy to likely get international Medicare coverage.
It worked for me by first choosing an Advantage Medicare plan, then selecting an insurer which includes international emergency medicare care for their Medicare policy holders. I list five for you: Kaiser Permanente, Blue Shield/Blue Cross/Anthem, Humana, Aetna and United Health, and give you their contact information. Their policies specifically include international travel within the Medicare plans. Be careful though. Health insurance is very important to you health and financial wellbeing. I'm not suggesting you give up your non-Medicare insurance and rely solely on this. But it is nice to know there might be extra coverage for you that we'd been told does not exist under Medicare when out of the US.

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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction - The Problem
01:22 Medicare Basics Review
03:01 My discovery - Medicare Advantage Paid!
05:52 View Kaiser Permanente Medicare policy
07:20 Will this work for you?
09:37 5 Insurers with Medicare International Coverage
11:43 Conclusion

#medicare #thailand #medicalinsurance

[firstchoice]

We have a young friend who rented a scooter in Thailand and was involved in a horrendous car accident. Not only did he spend 3 months in the hospital with a severe head injury, he was given top-notch care, and he never had to pay a thing. I have also found the cost so low in Europe it is astounding. I wish the United States of America would treat our citizens as well.

[WilliamShakespielberg]

This is probably _THE_ most valuable USA-expat health care video I have seen all year!

[mikejohnson]

Two important tips. I was admitted to an asian hospital late at night very ill. After 7 days, I was stabilized, but needed follow up care. I arranged admission to another hospital for surgical procedures, antibiotics, etc. I was there for 8 days and paid with a credit card.
When called my bcbs advantage plan to ask about coverage, the very nice lady asked me two questions:

1.For the first admission, did you enter the hospital via the emergency or the front door?
2. Are you living or only vacationing in Asia?

My answers: The emergency entrance and vacationing. I do maintain a US residence.

I was covered and reimbursed (eventually) for everything, including the second hospital care @ 80%. But only because I answered those two key questions correctly.

[lauraannchandler]

This information is correct, I was overseas, my appendix burst, and was hospitalized for a week+. My husband saw this video, I followed up with my Medicare provider and it worked.
I am so grateful to have found this video information, thank you.

[roamingrandy]

Great job, great info. My reservation is when it comes to calling any insurance company for information. What agent A tells you if often contradicted by agent B. And the insured is always the loser in the end. I trust insurance company customer service as much as I trust a politician.

[dlhanson]

My wife and I have Medicare Advantage plan subsidized by my former employer as part of my retirement benefits. This insurance is administered by Aetna. We have used the insurance twice as tourists.
1) 2018 - my wife had a very painful ankle joint. I took her to Prince Court Medical Center in Kuala Lumpur. Bill was about $250. I submitted the bill to Aetna and I received a check for the full amount.
2) In 2019, I had severe pain in my right leg after a flights from USA to Bangkok. I went to Bumrungrad Hospital. Cost was about $400. I submitted the bill to Aetna and they promptly send mr a check for the full amount.

[alphonsoeiland]

This video is very useful. I work in Medicare and was not aware of this benefit. Thank you for sharing

[_jamesbradley__]

Excellent and helpful information, thank you

[kenwooh]

Agree, last year my friend on Medicare Advantage plan on Kaiser plan had a emergency admission while staying in Seoul, Korea for two nights. His hospital expense was fully reimbursed by Kaiser upon returning to California. K. Wooh, M.D.

[whistler]

Another great video on an extremely important subject! Thanks for taking the time and effort to research this complex subject and explaining it so well!

[TIMOTHYPT]

Thank you for acknowledging not all expats are full time like nearly all the other expat videos. This is very helpful for us who live between USA and Thailand (or others). Good job

[JoseGarcia-oomc]

This is the most useful information I had on a you tube channel, thanks

[sonhuynh]

Amazing information. Nobody on YouTube has brought this up before. This is HUGE news! Wow, thanks !

[ThePolarbear]

Thank you. I have Aetna advantage and just looked for foreign emergency care in benefits and I'm covered as you stated.

[saildale]

Thank you. I never heard this info on any other site. I am not a fan of Advantage Plans, however if I plan to get most of my care overseas, it's disadvantages become less important. Well done.

[jay-fur]

January 2024, I'll start medicare. I chose The Plan G route vs. Advantage however, given your scenario you fared better with Kaiser Advantage. Domestically I find HMO's (Advantage Plans) wholly inadequate and would just rather pay for travel insurance. This choice is purely subjective with no right or wrong answer. Great topic!

[videoeditoranimation]

Very useful information for retired slow travelers! Thank you so much!

[kbird]

Great info, I lived in Chiang Mai ( Ruamchok Mall area) for 18 months, I just turned 65, returned to the US and signed up for Kaiser Advantage. It’s good to know if I had an emergency once I go abroad next year it looks like emergencies may be reimbursed. Just discovered your channel and subbed 🙏

[MegaRc]

Just subscribed to your channel today. Although more than 12 years away from retirement, I am doing research on medical insurance coverage when I travel outside the US for prolonged period of time. Your video is very helpful, and I will definitely give Kaiser a call when I retire to make sure they still provide worldwide emergency coverage if my outside stay is < 6 months. I agree that it is not fair that medicare does not directly cover people oversea, as we have paid our tax entire life for this benefit, whether you live abroad or not. Perhaps one day a conscientious politician will advocate for American who want to retire outside the US for medicare coverage, which I doubt will happen.

[tam]

You re genuinely loving and helping people. Subscribed!❤